by Chad Petri
Published: Sun, January 25, 2009 - 7:49 pm CST
Last Updated: Sun, January 25, 2009 - 8:47 pm CST
It's a proud day for African-American Heritage Trail chair Dora Finley and history professor David Blight. They're unveiling one of three new trail markers. One commemorates escaped slave Wallace Turnage. “One of thousands but one of the most dramatic escapes as an American slave in the American Civil War. The markers were dedicated in a ceremony in downtown Mobile. The expansion of the trail includes markers for mobile's slave market and a spot for lynching victim Michael Donald.
“The history of blacks in this city very deep very interesting very complicated, sometimes controversial but always fascinating,” says Blight. Each marker commemorates a different part of African American history throughout mobile and organizers say they're all very important. Heritage Trail chairwoman Dora Finley says they have more than 20 markers already in place. She says this finishes the first part of their plans to spread history and reverence.
“A respect for the contributions of everyone to our city and knowledge that we're all related,” says Finley. She says they plan to add driving tours and online tours so more people can learn about African American history in Mobile.
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